Examples of change

DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

The use of high-tech equipment in crisis areas can promote innovative and inclusive solutions for displaced individuals.

Open Ware FabLabs

Fabrication labs or “Fablabs” are high-tech maker-spaces designed to enable refugees, start-ups and local communities to co-create innovative solutions. In so doing, FabLabs not only create opportunities for refugees to develop valuable skills but also foster social cohesion between local communities and displaced people, allowing them to contribute to their own solutions.

Through the use of 3D printers we are thus able to drastically reduce the cost of upper limb prosthetics from approximately USD 2000 to USD 20, simply by connecting open source technology with existing talent in refugee camps. Another example of such innovations involves the construction of handheld echolocation devices that enable the blind to safely navigate their surroundings. Ultimately, FabLabs encourage entrepreneurship and learning in crisis areas in order to develop real solutions made for and by individuals most affected by displacement. We hope to furnish each Open Ware FabLab with a variety of high-tech equipment, ranging from 3D printers, scanners and milling machines to laser- and vinyl-cutters.

REFUGEES ON PLANES

RoP is a privately sponsored joint initiative of a consortium of Berlin, international and Jordan based NGOs and civil society in Europe at large.

A viable and responsible alternative to illegal migration and the widespread use people smugglers.

The aim of this civil society initiative is to replace over time illegal migration with a controlled, structured and safe movement of refugees and would-be asylum seekers to Europe. We offer safe passage, a streamlined legal and screening process before refugees arrive and a comprehensive integration process upon arrival.

The project will provide efficient and immediate humanitarian protection to the most vulnerable refugees, and will include services for their temporary or long-term integration.

In this way, we hope to contribute to a reduction in the on-going humanitarian crisis of stranded refugees, reduce the uncontrolled flows, and ultimately, prevent more tragedies.

ROC21

Instead of forcing standardized protocol solutions onto people, we recognize the importance of individuality and the right to choice and participation.

Refugee Open Cities

Devastating wars and conflicts have led to the displacement of 60 million people. While the vast majority of refugees fled to low- and middle-income countries, about 1.2 million of those who took the long journey to Europe have arrived in Germany. What makes this crisis so dangerous is that it overwhelms volunteer citizens, NGOs and nation leaders on their respective levels. And actions either focus on emergency (do our best to help) or singular issues such as health or education (do what we ́re used to do). We think it now needs an innovative, interconnected approach – a complex solution to a complex problem.

Our goal is to leapfrog beyond this crisis mode with a concept called Refugee Open Cities (ROC21). It ́s an open-source roadmap that activates the vast human potential of refugees by transforming camps into inclusive cities, bunk bed-halls into makerspaces and emergency homes into self-sustaining living environments.

The nurturing environment of ROC21 will speed up the inclusion and independence of refugees. It empowers and breaks through the enforced idleness, preventing aggressions and criminality. Learning, teaching, engaging with each other and creating a shared message: “We can handle this – together, cool and confident!”

THE PARTNERSHIP HUB

IPA is currently working toward developing a “Partnership Hub” in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq.

By connecting financial resources, expertise, and disruptive technologies with the actual needs and potential of refugees and original populations, the Hub will serve as a collaborative space matching local and external actors in the region, allowing the quick deployment of resources to support local economic development.

Both local markets and large aid organizations often lack access to new technologies and innovative approaches; our Hub bridges this gap by supporting ongoing humanitarian, development, and investment projects. Once fully operational, this approach will be applied to other contexts and regions, setting the standard for meeting needs in these disadvantaged areas.

A JOURNEY TO HARMONY

An education & art initiative for solidarity, togetherness and integration in partnership with CHILD OF PLAY.

The project aims benefiting local Austrian youth and schools together with care-taking organisations of refugee children in Vienna.

Wherever children come from, whatever their culture or religion, whatever their good or bad experiences, whatever their age or sex – they all are children and they all have the right to A JOURNEY TO HARMONY with love, understanding, a family and a child adequate live.

The project will foster integration between youths from Austria and those who have been forced to migrate here, encouraging children to express their feelings and to share emotions with or without words through artistic interactions.

Improving the World’s Health

Medical Diagnosis

Millions of people don’t have adequate access to medical diagnostics. IPA together with AESD will bring mobile, instant medical diagnosis at low-cost to the world’s most needed places. Detecting diseases like pneumonia, malaria, HIV and many more provides a base to jointly aim to improve the world’s health and decrease preventable death and disease.

NUVU SCHOOL

Integration Project

IPA | switxboard is facilitating a joint design workshop collaboration between students from NuVu Design Studio (Boston) and 10 youth in Vienna who arrived through reason of Asylum. The aim of this project is to collaboratively find solutions for problems that young people have encountered.

CITY DEVELOPMENT

Knowhow transfer of social housing approaches helps to address imminent challenges of rapid population growth through climate or conflict induced migration.

Municipal knowhow transfer

In Sarajevo a Viennese housing association invested 5.5 million Euros in constructing 164 apartments for returning refugees, a joint project with the Railway Trade Union of Bosnia. In the long-term, this investmant pays back.

In this case, the knowhow of the Austrian social housing sector was transferred to Sarajevo. It could easily be transferred to, say Kurdistan, or wherever there are tremendous problems with housing.

This approach can help to address imminent challenges of rapid population growth resulting from climate- or conflict- induced migration e.g. the sustainable evolution of camps and slums to settlements with the help of municipal planners and infrastructure experts.

About

Innovation and Planning Agency (IPA) is the leading place to identify resources globally, matching them with the needs of disadvantaged regions.
Our mission: democratizing the access to global knowhow by combining the best of global and local resources and networks into a unified co-creation ecosystem of innovation with disadvantaged communities.